Kamala Harris chosen as Biden's VP nominee

  (11 August 2020) Kamala Harris won the veepstakes today as Joe Biden chose the junior Senator from California as his running mate in the upcoming November election.  With Biden enjoying a 10-point lead in the national polls over the incumbent President Trump, Ms. Harris finds herself on the cusp of gaining access to the focus of power in Washington, DC.  And with the aging Biden as the Democratic nominee, the Harris pick is all the more significant as many observers wonder if Biden will be mentally and physically capable of completing his first term. 

Her horoscope is clearly a good one.  As I suggested last year, Kamala Harris would likely do reasonably well during the run-up to the primaries, even if she suffered from some telling planetary afflictions during the crucial middle period of the Democratic primaries.  Born with Rahu rising, Harris revels in the role of a trailblazer and a person who likes to break with tradition.  Her Full Moon in Aries in the 11th house suggests she can effortlessly stand out from the crowd and can actively pursue her goals.  Her Moon in the 11th house is an excellent placement for realizing one's ambitions and so it is no surprise that Harris has made the successful transition from law to politics. 

She was chosen today just as Jupiter exactly aspected her Venus while transiting Venus was trine to her Midheaven (MC) -- the unequal 10th house cusp.  Both transits are common with happy occasions.  We can also see that Mars (28 Pisces) was closely conjunct her 11th house cusp (gains, ambitions) suggesting a significant achievement.  Also, Uranus is stationary retrograde tomorrow at 16 Aries and it forms an exact 45 degree alignment with her Ascendant at 1 Gemini.  This Uranus station may have provided the sudden burst of energy needed to 'put her over the top' and be chosen as Biden's running mate.

As good as her natal chart is, however, the next few weeks look quite challenging for Harris.   To be sure, Jupiter is due to station direct at 23 Sagittarius in September.  This will maintain the aspect to Venus and will likely keep her in the public eye and a center of attention as the campaign intensifies.  But Saturn and Mars are also going to station in September in close alignment with two key natal points.  The Mars retrograde station on September 9 at 4 Aries will conjoin her 11th house Moon and could indicate a major setback in her plans.  Mars-Moon aspects are often rooted in conflict and usually lead to frustration. 

But the added problem here is that Saturn will also station direct on September 29 at 1 Capricorn conjunct her 8th house cusp.  Afflictions to the 8th house often symbolize scandals or embarrassment of some kind that force people to take up a defensive position.  And to top it off, she will be undergoing a nodal return over the next several weeks as Rahu returns to its natal position in late August and September.  Nodal returns are often times of uncertainty and disruption which can be difficult to handle.   This nodal return is more likely to bring setbacks and confusion since Rahu will align closely with Mars and Saturn so that all three malefics will activate her Ascendant at 1 Gemini.  Therefore, the next 4-6 weeks may be unusually difficult for Harris both personally and professionally.  I would not be surprised if Biden's polling lead shrinks further during this time. 

But her chart looks quite good for Election Day, November 3.  Mercury is due to station direct at 1 Libra where it will exactly align with her Ascendant.  Also Jupiter (27 Sagittarius) and Pluto (28 Sagittarius) will aspect her 10th lord, Jupiter, with 2-3 degrees and will align with her 11th lord Mars (28 Pisces).  This is more evidence that Biden/Harris will have the initial lead over Trump on Election Day.  Whether they can hold it until the presidential inauguration on January 20 is another question that I will address in a future post. 



Weekly Market Forecast

Stocks have remained mostly bullish over the past week as an improving employment situation in the US gave investors hope that the worst of the Covid crisis might be over.  However, stocks, bonds and gold fell today (Tuesday) on renewed inflation fears with the Nasdaq leading the way lower.  Big tech companies like Apple suffered most, and this was in line with my thoughts from last week's post that the Mars aspect to the natal Venus in the Apple horoscope would likely coincide with some downside this week.  Apple fell 3% today. 

I think we could see more downside this week as Mars square Pluto over the next day or two.  Mars will then enter sidereal Aries next week where it will align with the Sun, Mercury Saturn and Ketu, the South Lunar Node.  While the Sun and Mercury are considered neutral or mildly benefic, the other three planets are natural malefics.  This elevates the downside risk considerably for next week.


For more details, check out my weekly subscriber newsletter which is published every Saturday afternoon (EST).   I outline the key technical and planetary influences for US and Indian stocks for the short and medium term, as well as currencies, gold and oil.

Apple carries the markets higher

(4 August 2020) US stocks have continued to defy gravity in recent days despite a 32% decline in GDP and a disturbing rise in Covid deaths.  Last week's strong earnings reports from Big Tech confirmed what many already knew: that Apple, Facebook and Amazon are the only stocks holding up the market.  While the rest of the market is lagging badly, Apple and the other tech titans remain in a relentless bull market, fueled by the demand of a population held captive by the coronavirus.

Therefore, the stock market is being kept afloat not only by the machinations of the Fed and the Trump administration, but also by Apple, which is now trading at a new all-time high of $438.  The Apple chart is currently bullish as Jupiter is conjunct Mars within a three degree orb.  Meanwhile, bearish Saturn (3 Capricorn) is not doing much direct damage yet despite its presence in the 1st house.

Based on the transit picture, it seems likely we could see some kind of decline in Apple and the broader markets by next week as transiting Mars (29 Pisces) casts its full-strength 8th house aspect to Venus (29 Libra) and the 10th house cusp as well as its opposition aspect to Pluto.  While this will be exact on Friday, Aug 14, it will be within range several days earlier.  This suggests that some kind of pullback in Apple is more likely next week at the latest and this should impact global markets also.

We can also see that the upcoming Saturn direct station in late September should coincide with some additional downside in Apple.  Saturn is due to end its retrograde cycle on September 29 at 1 Capricorn and this will align closely with the the natal Mercury (16 Scorpio) in the Apple horoscope by the semisquare 45 degree aspect.  Since Saturn will be in close alignment with natal Mercury for much of September, this unprecedented rally in Apple may be harder to sustain since Saturn is a clear bearish influence.  Moreover, transiting Ketu (South Lunar Node) will conjoin the Sun-Neptune conjunction in early October and will become an additional burden on market sentiment.  In other words, it is hard to see how the current rally can continue for much longer.

For more details, check out my weekly subscriber newsletter which is published every Saturday afternoon (EST).   I outline the key technical and planetary influences for US and Indian stocks for the short and medium term, as well as currencies, gold and oil.

EU Covid bailout boosts stocks

(21 July 2020)  Stocks remained buoyant to start the week after the European Union agreed to a massive $2 Trillion bailout package to combat the economic fallout of the Covid-19 pandemic. After their 30% plunge to the March 23 low, US stocks have climbed back to within just 3% of their February 19 high before the coronavirus crisis. 

While unemployment is still in double digits and many people are barely able to get by on reduced wages, many global markets have rallied on the huge injection of cash from the Federal Reserve and other central banks.  Corporate earnings have taken a hit, of course, but it is the future outlook that matters most for investors as the market tends to look forward by 6-12 months.  Obviously, optimism comes more easily when Fed Chair Jay Powell is busy buying up corporate debt in order push hedge funds and institutional investors into riskier assets like stocks.

In last week's post, I thought we might have seen more downside by now since we may still be vulnerable to the impact of the July 5 lunar eclipse.  The eclipse occurred at 19 degrees of sidereal Sagittarius and Mars (19 Pisces) exactly squared that point today.  Mars aspects to eclipse points tend to have bearish effects on market sentiment and often correlate with declines. 

We did see some late day weakness in US markets today (Tuesday), but so far this Mars aspect is shaping up as a disappointing false positive.  Due to the relatively slower motion of Mars, it is still possible we could see some negative fallout this week from this Mars aspect to the lunar eclipse point.  Nonetheless, the probability for some downside begins to diminish tomorrow (Wednesday). 

Looking further ahead, we can see that the horoscope of the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE) may become more vulnerable to declines as the influence of Jupiter wanes and the influence of Saturn intensifies in the coming weeks.  Last week, retrograde Jupiter (27 Sagittarius) formed an exact 120-degree aspect with Mars (27 Leo) in the NYSE chart.  The previous week it has formed a 90-degree square alignment with the Moon (28 Pisces).  Both were likely bullish influences that appeared to coincide with the ongoing rally in the stock market.

Sentiment may be more likely to turn cautious in the near term as Jupiter moves past its aspect with Mars and Saturn (4 Capricorn) approaches a closer aspect with natal Jupiter (2 Libra).  However, it is worth noting that Saturn has already been in the midst of a T-square alignment with natal Saturn and Neptune in the NYSE chart during the month of July with few negative effects. 

There is some reason to think that the bearish influence of Saturn will become more manifest as it approaches 2 Capricorn where it will align with Jupiter (2 Libra) and Mercury (2 Taurus).  This alignment is closest in the month of August and the chart cast for 25 August illustrates how the aspects of Saturn and Mars are likely to coincide with some significant downside in US stocks. 


For more details, check out my weekly subscriber newsletter which is published every Saturday afternoon (EST).   I outline the key technical and planetary influences for US and Indian stocks for the short and medium term, as well as currencies, gold and oil. 

The state of the race: Biden in front

(14 July 2020) As this strange and difficult year continues to unfold, attention is invariably shifting towards the US presidential election in November.  Republican incumbent Donald Trump is trailing Democratic challenger Joe Biden by about 10 points in the polls and most betting markets also have Biden enjoying a large lead.  Given the chaotic government response to Covid-19, it seems that Trump's hopes for re-election are remote.  At this point, there would have to be some unforeseen developments in order for Trump to win this election. 

As we know, Trump's horoscope looks quite difficult on Election Day, November 3.   Retrograde Mercury and Saturn are aligned in a square aspect and this raises the possibility of some significant confusion or disruption with the election result.  Moreover, the Mercury-Saturn alignment is poorly aligned with Trump's natal Venus-Saturn conjunction.  This pattern may symbolize disappointment and frustration with the election result.  As an added burden, transiting Rahu is conjunct natal Rahu, a typically malefic pattern which marks periods of change and uncertainty. 

On the face of it, it seems that Trump is likely to lose the election.  And yet, we know there is a real possibility that the election may not be decided on November 3.  The GOP controls the state legislatures of several swing states and may not be in a hurry to endorse their results for partisan political reasons.  Also, the impact of the virus means that most voters will cast mail-in ballots and thus could be subject to increased scrutiny and legal disqualification by the losing side.  So there is some reason to think that the election may not be decided on November 3.  This makes forecasting the ultimate election result more challenging.

One additional source of information may be Trump's 2017 Inauguration chart.  Typically, when the chart of an incumbent is well-aspected, re-election to a second term is more likely.  This occurred in 2012 with Obama's re-election.  The transits in November 2012 were quite auspicious with respect to the horoscope of his initial inauguration in January 2009.  Jupiter  (20 Taurus) and Venus (17 Virgo) were both in degreewise alignments with the Ascendant (20 Aries).  In addition. Saturn and Mercury aligned closely with Jupiter which I take as generally supportive of the incumbent Obama.  Yes, Saturn is a natural malefic, but here a near-stationary benefic Mercury transforms the influence into a net positive. 

Let's compare the chart for the upcoming Nov 3 election with Trump's inauguration on Jan 20, 2017.  Right off the bat, we can see it doesn't look good.  Malefic Mars (21 Pisces) is retrograde in the 12th house of loss and in close alignment with the Ascendant at 20 Aries.  Mars rules the 1st house in the chart so that is a doubly negative influence for Trump.  And we can see that transiting stationary Mercury (1 Libra) falls under the 8th house aspect of natal Mars (0 Pisces), while Mars itself falls under the 3rd house aspect of transiting Saturn.  That is a very nasty-looking pattern for the day of the election.  It suggests that: 1) Trump is likely to have fewer votes than Biden on election day and/or that  2) the country as a whole is likely to be riven with rancor and animosity.

If I was reasonably confident that the election was going to be decided on November 3, I would say that Trump will lose and Biden will win.  But the planets also suggest that the extent of division and turmoil may be such that there is no winner on November 3.  I just don't know.  We can see that the transits to Trump's Inauguration chart improves quite a bit by early December as Jupiter conjoins the Midheaven (10th house cusp = leaders) and conjoins with Saturn near the natal Sun at 6 Capricorn.  

It's very possible this is simply a reflection of the reassuring constitutional process through which Biden is confirmed following the election.  And yet there is some reasonable doubt in my mind if it could represent some other protracted scenarios of uncertainty that may echo the Bush-Gore result in 2000.  I hope to have more to say on this subject in the coming weeks.



Weekly Market Forecast

Meanwhile, stock markets have been choppy in recent days although they have remained largely within a narrow trading range.  Monday's session brought a significant intraday reversal and decline as Covid worries undermined sentiment.  Today (Tuesday) saw another intraday reversal in US markets as promising vaccine news gave investors a reason to buy. 

So there is some reason to think we remain under the shadow of the July 5 lunar eclipse.  Markets may be more indecisive than usual and perhaps more vulnerable to news developments.  This week could see further choppiness as the Sun opposes Pluto tomorrow and then enters sidereal Cancer where it aligns with Saturn on Friday.   With the tense Mars eclipse aspect still due for next week, there is some reason to expect investor sentiment to err on the side of caution for the near term.


For more details, check out my weekly subscriber newsletter which is published every Saturday afternoon (EST).   I outline the key technical and planetary influences for US and Indian stocks for the short and medium term, as well as currencies, gold and oil.

Photo: C-Span

Stocks rise on China optimism following lunar eclipse

(7 July 2020)  US stocks remained buoyant for the most part to start the week following Monday's surge in Chinese markets.   Monday's winning session extended last week's rally but today (Tuesday) saw some significant selling as investors digested the frightening Covid numbers coming out of the southern US states.  The down day coincided with a bearish Mars-Mercury square aspect that I noted in last week's post.  This aspect was more likely to deliver some downside since it involved Mars (a generally bearish planet) forming a square aspect which also tends to be more bearish. 

It is important to note that the bullish energy of late may be waning as Jupiter has now moved past its conjunction with Pluto.  Typically, Jupiter conjunctions are more bullish during their applying phase and less powerful in their separating phase.  And bearish Saturn is still aligned closely with Ketu (South Lunar Node) which waits for its appropriate triggering planet.

After Sunday's lunar eclipse, we have entered a more uncertain period, Monday's gains notwithstanding.  Although they can be powerful in their effects, it is important to note that eclipses often don't correspond with immediate market outcomes, either higher or lower.  Eclipses can also be seen as concentrations of energy which have a delayed release through the transits of other planets.  

For example, the previous solar eclipse on Sunday, June 21 was apparently negative due to its alignment with Saturn.  And indeed, the days following the eclipse were somewhat negative in the markets, but the decline deepened on Friday, June 26 when Mars exactly aligned with the eclipse point.  Mars therefore acted as a kind of trigger planet which released the negative energy of the eclipse.

We could see a similar delayed release of eclipse energy in the coming days.  Last Sunday's lunar eclipse at 19 Sagittarius itself was similarly aligned with bearish Saturn, albeit only through a relatively minor 135 degree angle (360/8 x 3).   So that could introduce some additional cautionary sentiment into the markets over the coming days. 

But it is also important to take note of the next planet that aspects that eclipse point at 19 Sagittarius.  As it happens, the next planet that aligns with that eclipse point is again Mars, a bearish planet.  Mars will square that eclipse point on July 20-21.  If a bullish planet like Venus was due to align with the eclipse point, then we could be more sanguine about the outlook.  However, Mars tends to be bearish and the square aspect is more problematic than other angles.  Therefore, the week of July 20 has a higher downside risk than would otherwise be the case.

 

For more details, check out my weekly subscriber newsletter which is published every Saturday afternoon (EST).   I outline the key technical and planetary influences for US and Indian stocks for the short and medium term, as well as currencies, gold and oil.

Lunar eclipse marks US Covid chaos

(30 June 2020) It's all too appropriate for 2020: a lunar eclipse that takes place just minutes after America's July 4th Independence Day celebrations.  The world's only superpower, the United States, finds itself in an unfamiliar state of chaotic disrepair as a result of an incoherent response to the Covid-19 pandemic.  The lack of any coordinated government response has seen infections rise once again following the premature and haphazard reopening after the Memorial Day holiday in late May.   The recent anti-racism protests and riots also haven't helped matters as many states now report worsening numbers, largely among young people.  Southern states are now having to reverse their reopening in an effort of gain control of the new outbreak.

Of course, astrologers know that eclipses are traditionally seen as celestial events that mark times of uncertainty, disruption and chaos.  It is therefore perhaps not surprising that Sunday's lunar eclipse will occur just a day after the US national holiday.  It is almost as if the stars are declaring that all is not well in the 'land of the free' and that the universe has yet to decide what course it will set for the future. 

As the Mercury retrograde cycle continues, it seems likely that the US will be unable to gain the upper hand in the fight against the coronavirus in the near term.  In last week's post, I suggested that the end of the Mercury retrograde cycle on July 12 could be just the first step towards getting a better handle on the virus. 

In terms of financial markets, last week's decline was not too surprising as Mars was aligned with Saturn and the Lunar Nodes, Rahu and Ketu.  That said, I thought we might have seen some upside late in the week with the culmination of the Venus retrograde cycle, although we did get one up day on Thursday.  Friday's decline coincided with the Mars alignment with the June 21 solar eclipse point at 6 Gemini.

So far this week, we have seen stock markets rally as Jupiter conjoined Pluto in the first degree of sidereal Capricorn.  This was in keeping with the forecast outlined in my newsletter since Jupiter alignments with outer planets like Pluto tend to coincide with rallies.  This was perhaps even more likely since the Sun conjoined Mercury today (Tuesday). 

The rest of this week is perhaps somewhat less bullish, although not really bearish either.  Jupiter has moved past Pluto while the Sun has moved past Mercury.  This suggests diminishing positive sentiment for the rest of the week.  At the same time, I would not be surprised to see further gains, if only due to upward momentum. 

After the lunar eclipse just after midnight on Sunday, July 5, I would expect sentiment to turn more bearish.  In addition to the post-eclipse uncertainty, irascible Mars will aspect Mercury, the planet of commerce, in the first half of next week.  This is a bearish combination that seems more likely to see stocks decline.


For more details, check out my weekly subscriber newsletter which is published every Saturday afternoon (EST).   I outline the key technical and planetary influences for US and Indian stocks for the short and medium term, as well as currencies, gold and oil.


Photo: CSPAN.org

US sees surge of new Covid cases

(23 June 2020) The coronavirus continues to occupy center stage in our lives here in mid-2020.  Most countries remain in some state of lockdown along with suppression measures like mask-wearing or social distancing.  For the most part, the successful efforts of past two months have at least significantly reduced the number of infections to the point were reopening is now considered fairly safe.

But the picture is less encouraging in the US.  While some states started to reopen at six weeks ago, infection levels are still stubbornly high and have not followed the steeper declines seen in Europe and Asia.  Moreover, several southern US states have seen a significant rise in cases in recent days.  This is not only includes infections which could be an artifact of wider testing but hospitalizations and deaths as well.  This is a clear indication that the virus is still not under control in places like California, Texas, Arizona and Florida. 

In a previous post, I thought there was a very real chance for a second and third wave of Covid-19.  However, I didn't give proper attention to the possibility that the current first wave would remain a problem for this long.  The afflictions in President's Trump's horoscope pointed towards the possibility of a second and third wave in the fall and around the time of the New Year.  Trump's chart is still under heavy affliction as Saturn (6 Capricorn) sits atop of his 6th house of health and illness.  As a rule, Saturn makes most things worse.

If we look at the Inauguration horoscope for the Trump presidency, we can see how current planetary alignments may well be prolonging the first wave of Covid.  The Inauguration chart (Jan 20, 2017 12.00 p.m.) symbolically represents the key events and conditions in the US over the course of the president's four-year term.  For health matters, we should analyze the condition of the Sun (vitality), the 1st house and its ruler, Mars (the nation as a whole), the 6th house which contains the sign of Virgo (health), and its ruler Mercury. 

Clearly, Saturn (6 Capricorn) has recently stationed and turned retrograde and remains conjunct the Sun.  This is a reflection of the general weakness of national vitality and presidential leadership in the face of the coronavirus pandemic. 

Lagnesh (1st house ruler) Mars was just recently conjunct with its natal position at 0 Pisces.  This excessive Mars energy likely reflects the negative outcomes of Covid disease as well as high level of tensions and anger surrounding the violent race protests following the death of George Floyd at the hands of police.  The theme of emotional upset and volatility is also seen by the opposition of Uranus (15 Aries) to the Moon (15 Libra). The Moon symbolizes the nation's emotion state while Uranus represents the desire for freedom and the breaking of traditional bonds.  That is very much the case in these protests against Confederate monuments which have links with the slave era.  This Moon-Uranus aspect therefore describes the unpredictable and somewhat irrational behavior that seems to be taking hold in the US this summer.  

But the worry over the recent resurgence in cases largely corresponds with the start of the Mercury retrograde cycle last week.  Mercury is an important planet for the nation's health since its ruler, Virgo, is placed in the 6th house of health.  Whenever transiting or natal Mercury is weakened, then the nation's well-being is more likely to be compromised.  The retrograde condition of the 6th house ruler, Mercury, is one such planetary weakness.  For this reason, the worrying rise of infections in the Southern states may well be connected to Mercury's current retrograde cycle. 

Looking ahead, we could see a peak of this latest surge sometime in early July.  At that time, Mercury will conclude its retrograde cycle and station direct in exact opposition to its natal position at 12 Sagittarius.  The affliction will be likely be magnified due to the square aspect from Mars (12 Pisces) around July 8.  Therefore, US may have to endure this first wave setback a while longer, at least until Mercury separates from Mars and returns to direct motion (July 12).  


Weekly Market Forecast

Stocks have been moving sideways in recent days as Federal Reserve stimulus attempts to neutralize the economic fallout of rising unemployment rolls.  As expected, last Thursday's Mercury retrograde station did see some pullback in US markets.   This week has been more positive, however, although last night's 'Navarro flash crash' in the Futures underlined the vulnerability of the market to bad news. 

The planets this week seem more difficult.  Sunday's solar eclipse has so far been a non-event although transiting Mars will activate the eclipse point  (6 Gemini) this Saturday by square aspect.  According to astrological theory, eclipses release their energy -- for good or ill -- when they are aspected by another planet.  The Mars aspect here suggests a more negative outcome.  Moreover, we can see that Mars will form an alignment with the Lunar Node (Rahu) and bearish Saturn for the rest of the week.  But the late week offers a hint of redemption as Venus ends its retrograde cycle and aligns with the Sun.  Venus-Sun alignments have a positive bias, although that could be partially offset by the negative Mars influence.  I would expect an eventful week regardless.


For more details, check out my weekly subscriber newsletter which is published every Saturday afternoon (EST).   I outline the key technical and planetary influences for US and Indian stocks for the short and medium term, as well as currencies, gold and oil.


Photo of Anthony Fauci: CSPAN.org